Laich It – Brooks Laich had three assists last night against Atlanta and now has two three-point games through 12 contests this year. He also had two goals and one assist in the season opener at Boston . Laich has already matched his number of three-point games from last season as he had three assists against Tampa Bay (March 27) and a goal and two assists against Atlanta (April 5). In his last 19 regular season games (including this year and last year), Laich has four three-point games and eight multiple-point games for 23 points (eight goals and 15 assists) during that time.

NOTE OF THE NIGHT

Double or (almost) nothing –Alex Ovechkin, who leads the NHL with 13 goals, has scored two goals in six of his 12 games, matching Mario Lemieux for the most two-goal games in an October in NHL history. He has 50 career multiple-goal games. Ovechkin’s 13 goals this month are one shy of the best month of his career (he had 14 in March 2008).

FIVE MORE NOTES NO MEDIA PERSON SHOULD BE WITHOUT

Lucky 7? –A win tonight would give Washington a seven-game winning streak, which would match the longest streaks of Bruce Boudreau's tenure. The Capitals won seven in a row to end the 2007-08 season and again in December and January last season, the only two winning streaks that long the team has had in the last 15 years.

Longest Capitals Winning Streaks Since 1993-94

7 games –12/23/08 to 1/6/09 and 3/21/08 to 4/5/08

Another 7 –Mike Green has points in seven straight games (2g-6a), the longest point streak by an NHL defenseman or any Capital this year. It matches Green’s longest point streak since his record-setting eight-game goal streak last season. After posting two points in his first five games, Green now ranks tied for sixth in scoring by a defenseman with 10 points in 12 games.

No way, Jose –Among NHL goaltenders with more than two starts, Jose Theodore ranks fourth with a .922 save percentage (through Thursday’s games). His 41-save effort Tuesday against Philadelphia marked the most saves he has made in 65 games with the Capitals, and included a stop on a third-period penalty shot. In his last four starts Theodore has a 2.04 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage.

Fast starting dozen – Washington ’s 8-2-2 record matches the 1991-92 team (9-3-0) for the best start in Capitals history through 12 games (that team won its 13th game). A win tonight would give the Capitals the best October in club history (by winning percentage; currently that 1991-92 team at 9-3-0, .750).

One way – Washington was 0-2-2 in its first four one-goal games this season but is 4-0-0 in its last four.

“If you grow up in metro Washington, you grow up a diehard Redskins fan. But if you hate your parents, you grow up a Cowboys fan.”-Jim Lachey